Duplex receptacle



Aug. 27, 1929.

W. J. FERRIS DUPLEX RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 6. 1928 2 Sheets -$heet l Aug. 27, 1929. w. J. FERRIS DUPLEX RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwcntor,

Ag."n

Gttorncg Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

uN o STATES wILLARD .J. FERBIS,

v 1,726,429 PATENT, OFFICE.

or .Laoxson, MICHIGAN, AssI'GNoa 'ro REYNOLDS spams COMPANY, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN. I

DUPLEX RECEPTACLE.

The invention relates to a duplex recep- 4 tacle.

the'accompanying drawings, and set forthin the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a duplex receptacle constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. 4

Fig. 3 is a similar view, the detachable cover plate being removed to illustrate the arrangement of the bus bars.

Fig. i is a rear elevation of the body, the

4 bus bars and the detachable cover plate being removed.

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the duplex receptacle. I

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional viewtaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7- is a transverse sectional view-on the Fig. 8,,is aitransx erse sectional view on the line 88 of Fig; 61

Fig- 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the bus bars,

-In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the duplex receptacle comprises in its construction a body constructed of moldedbakelite or other suitable insulating material'ilnd consisting of a relatively thin-faceplate l provided at its rear face with transversely disposed substantially oblong blocks 2 formed integral with the face plate; Y

The oblong blocks 2 v are spaced apart and are connectedby a central longitudinal Web 3 forming a partition and cooperating with the transversely disposed blocks to form side recesses 4 to receive terminal arms, 5 and line wire attaching means of bus bars 6, which have the said line wire attaching means spaced apart and separated by insulating means so that there is no danger of short-circuiting or arcing. The face plate is provided with an inclined marginal flange 7 to form a beveled edge, and it is reinforced by central longitudinal ribs 8 and transverse ribs 9 which extend from the transverse blocks 2 tothe marginal flanges. The longitudinal ribs are arranged in alignment with each other and with the central web 3, and extend from the sides of the transverseblocks, and the transverse ribs 9 extend from the ends of the transverse blocks to the said marginal flanges.

The face plate is provided at its inner or rear face with a central rectangular'enlargement 10 forming a base and provided with spaced longitudinal flanges 11 arranged in pairs and arranged centrally of the side recesses at in spaced relation with the central web 3, and the transverse blocks 2, and adapted to receive the ends of the terminal arms 5 to support thesame and prevent the said arms 5 from being bent inwardly by the operator in attachin the line wires or circuit wires to the bus ars, and they also prevent any strain on the said wires from bending the arms 5 outwardly from their proper position in the side recesses.

The face plate is provided with slots 12 and 13 arranged in pairs at the upper and lower portions of'the face plate, the slot 13 of each pair being longer than the slot 12 t0 polarize the device, and the said face plate is beveled .at the'marginal edges of the slots to facilitate the introduction ofthe knife blades of a plug,-which knife blades are designed to be of different sizes to cooperate with the slots 12 and 13. The transverse blocks are provided with spaced openings 14 forming chambers which communicate with the slots 12 and 13 and which are adapted to receive spring fingers 15 of the bus bars 6. The transverse blocks form housings for the spring fingers of the bus bars, and the inner side .walls of the openings 14: are notched at 16 to receive the bus bars andto permit the same to be arranged with theirrear faces'in flush relation with seats' formed by recessing the rear faces'of the blocks to-provide marginal flanges 17 which are arranged at the'ends and outer sides of the said blocks to fit against the sides and ends of a removablecover plate 18.

The cover plate 18, which is rectangular, 'covers and conceals the bus bars, and protects the same, andits endportions fit snugly within the marginal flanges 17 of the trans "erse blocks. The cover plateissecured in place by suitable fastening devices which may, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, consist of screws 19 embedded in the central portions of thetransverse blocks and having projecting-threaded portions 20 piercing the cover 'plate 18 and receiving nuts 21 for clamping the cover plate against the plugs.

" tuse angle to form a flaring-entranceto per- .mit the knife blades to be readily inserted afi' between the spring fingers, and one or both of the spring fingers are preferably'provided with an indentation 23 forming a protuberance at the inner face of the spring finger to insure proper contact between the lmife' blades and the spring fingers. The bus bars are located at opposite sides of the central partition 3 and in spaced relation with each other and with the partition, and the arms 5,

which are formed integral with the bus bars, extend from the same centrally withthe outer edges thereof, as clearly .illustratedin Fig. 8 of the drawings. The bus bars are firmly retained in position by the cover plate, and the arms 5 are recessed at their side edges at 24 to'form oppositeshouldersand to receive tongues 25 ,of a contact plate 26. The tongues 25 arearranged in pairs and are bent around the recessededges of the arms 5 to receive the shoulders formed by the recesses for gripping the contact plates to the arms. The contact plate 26 is pierced by a binding screw 27 which is threaded into the contactplate. The ends of the contact plate are slit at spaced points to form thetongues 25, and at intermediate portions of the metal. of the contact plate between the tongues 25 are bent outwardly to form projections 28 which cooperate with the binding screw in" holdingthe badlportion of a wire. .The bus bars are identical in construction and are reversible and either bus bar may be arranged in position at either side of the central partition, so that the parts of the duplex receptacle may be easily and quickly assembled! The cover plate ma be of anysuitable insulating material, an fits snugly in position, and is firmly secured-in tplace. The face plate is provided with suita reception of fastening devices for securing it in position.

S ace l e apertures for the What is claimed is: i a

1. A duplex receptacle comprising a body of insulating material consisting of a face plate provided at the rear face with integral spaced transverse blocks and a central longitudinal webcforming a partition and cooper- 'ating)with the blocks to provide side recesses,

said locks having spaced openings communieating with slots in the face plate, and spaced bus bars located at opposite sides of the cen- 2. A duplex receptacle comprising a body of insulating material consisting of a face plate'provided at the rear face with integral spaced transverse blocks and a centrallon gitudinal web forming a partition and cooperating with the blocks to provide side recesses, said blocks having spaced openings communicating with slotsin the faceplate, spaced bus bars located at opposite sides of thecentral partition and provided at their ends with spring tongues located in the open in s of the transverse blocks, said bus bars being also provided with arms located in the said side recesses and provided with wire attaching'meanaa cover plate of insulating material fitted over the bus bars, and marginal flanges formed at the rear faces of the transverse .-blocks and extending around the end portions of the cover plate and fitting the same.

spaced transverse blocks and a central longitudinal web forming a partition and cooper- 3. A duplex receptacle comprising a body ating with the blocks to provide side recesses, said blocks having spaced openings 'communicating with slots in the face plate, and

spaced bus bars located at opposite sides of thecentral partition and provided at their ends with spring tongues located in the openings of the transverse blocks, said bus bars being also provided with arms located in the said side recesses and provided with wire attaching means, and spaced flanges carried by the faceplate and arranged at the inner. and outer sides of the said arms for holding the same against inward and outward movement.

4. A duplex receptacle comprising a body. of insulating material consistin of a face' plate rovided at the rear f ce with inte ral transverse blocks and a. central" Tongitudinal web forming a partition and cooperating with the blocks to provide "side recesses, said blocks having spaced openings communicating with slots in-the face plate, spaced bus bars arranged at op site sides of the said partitionand provide at their ends with spring fingers located in the said openings, said bus bars being provided with central arms arranged in the side recesses, contact plates fitted against the arms and provided with spaced tongues embracing the arms and interlocked with the same, and binding screws carried by the contact plates.

5. A duplex receptacle comprising a body of insulating material consisting of a face plate provided at the rear face with integral spaced transverse blocks and a central longitudinal web forminga partition and cooperating with the blocks to provide side recesses, said blocks having spaced openings communicating with slots in the face plate, spaced bus bars arranged at opposite sides of the said partition and provided at their ends with sprin fingers located in the said openings, said us bars being provided with central arms arranged in the side recesses, contact plates fitted against the arms and providedwith spaced tongues embracing the arms and interlocked with the same, said contact plates being also provided with projections located between the arms and extending outwardly, and binding screws carried by the contact plates and located between the said projections.

6. A duplex receptacle of insulating material consisting of a face plate having a central enlargement forming a base and provided at the ends thereof with spaced transverse blocks having spaced openings, said blocks being recessed at the inner side walls of the openings and provided at the outer sides and ends with marginal flanges forming seats, and a central longitudinal web connecting the transverse blocks and cooperating therewith to provide side recesses, spaced bus bars fitted in the notched portions of the transverse blocks and provided at their ends with spring arms arranged in the said openings, said bus bars being provided with arms extending into the side recesses, spaced flanges carried by the base and arranged at the inner and outer faces of the said arms and holding the same against inward and outward move ment, wire attaching meanscarried by the said arms, and a removable cover plate secured to the blocks and arranged within the rgiarginal flanges thereof and covering the bus ars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of October, 1928.

WILLARD J. FERRIS. 

